ELECTIONS
Look beyond one debate
One national presidential debate does not a president make. Remember when you cast your important vote in November you are, in all probability, deciding who the next Supreme Court nominee(s) will be.
Women’s rights, minority rights, etc. are on the line. Take a step back, if necessary, look at the big picture.
PATRICIA WARNER, Boise
Motivation to vote lacking
For the first time in 60 years, I will probably not vote, at least in the national races. Aside from the stink of the current campaigns, some basic issues are:
After back-to-back failed presidencies, there is no reason to believe that either candidate will be any better. There is ample evidence that things will get worse, given that both candidates are strident ideologues. The tragic state of the economy is strictly the fault of a nonfunctioning Congress and is unlikely to be corrected by any who might be elected or reelected this time. And one must remember that the Congress is made up mostly of former state legislators.
There are two major changes that could help restore decency and sanity to elections in the country: Campaign financing and term limits. Neither will happen while incumbency is at stake.
DON SEELEY, Kuna
No Costco for Romneys
I need to see the connection. So Mrs. Mitty buys Mr. Mitty’s shirts at Costco? I got news for ya. If I had a few hundred million in offshore accounts, or local accounts, for tax purposes, my girlfriend wouldn’t be caught dead in Costco. Gee, maybe I am feeling connected, I was starting to worry.
DAVID K. DILISA, Meridian
Nothing will be solved if hunting amendment passes
My heart goes out to the two owners of dogs that were caught in traps in the Boise foothills last January. It puzzles me why the Idaho Legislature has put House Joint Resolution 2 (HJR 2) on the ballot this November to guarantee the rights of Idahoans to hunt, fish and trap.
Idahoans already have the right to hunt, fish and trap. Defeat of HJR 2 would not affect existing rights to hunt, fish and trap. However, if HJR 2 passes, it would make trapping legal forever.
Idaho voters: Don’t be fooled by those who cherish their cruel “sport” of trapping by making it look like it is a guarantee to protect your rights to hunt, fish and trap. Trapping kills and maims thousands of non-target animals and the practice is inexcusable.
If interested in assisting to help defeat this amendment, please visit No on HJR 2’s website at hjr2no.org. Donations would be greatly appreciated.
Vote NO on HJR 2 Nov. 6
AIMEE MORAN, Boise
JOB PICTURE
There’s no substitute for professional work
It was with some degree of hope that I read the article regarding job picture being brighter. Perhaps my husband, who is working out of our home state as a pipefitter, will be able to come back and be with his family. We are grateful he has a job; many construction workers do not.
Much to my dismay, the section discussing construction and manufacturing begins with “jobs that require less formal education” and talks about the federal stimulus effort designed to boost employment in the sector. It speaks of the housing issue. What about commercial building? Tax money seems to have gone to road building, not general construction. That helps heavy equipment operators, not most construction workers.
The plumbers, pipefitters and electricians that I’m acquainted with are dedicated professionals. Many work as apprentices for a minimum of four years under a journeyman’s supervision during daytime hours, then go to school at night. These men and women train and study for years at their craft.
Good construction workers deserve better than to be told that after a lifetime of perfecting their skills, they are obsolete. When it is time to rebuild, who will be there?
JERI TROUTNER, Boise
HEALTH EXCHANGE
Idahoans could benefit with insurance plan
The new health insurance exchange has the potential to offer great benefits to Idahoans.
Under the Affordable Care Act, each state has three options for a health insurance exchange; a state-run, federally run or partnership model. If a state does not declare its choice by Nov. 16, it will default to a federally run program.
In a state-run exchange consumers will have the assistance of insurance agents to help them choose and enroll in their best insurance options.
The downside for this new system comes from the unknown of a federally run system. Who knows how many options Idahoans will have, if professional insurance agents will lose their jobs, or if the cost for insurance — currently Idaho is at a national low for cost — will rise. Questions will have to be routed through Washington, D.C., instead of being dealt with locally in Idaho.
Keeping control of our future in Idaho will come from an Idaho health insurance exchange. The state has Idaho citizens and our best interest in mind.
I support a state-run health exchange.
SCOTT LEAVITT, Idaho Association of Health Underwriters & Scott Leavitt Insurance, Boise
HAMMERFEST
Editorial hits the mark
I couldn’t agree more with your Oct. 2 editorial about “Hammerfest.” Let’s not waste neither time nor energy worrying about the sludge from the bottom of the gene pool.
ROBERT JOHNSON, Boise
